Posts Tagged ‘supermarket’

** Update April 2012 ** Due to overwhelming requests the supermarket has changed its name back to Tagawa and put the old sign back up outside.. so don’t look for Nagomi anymore! I went back today to test Black Sesame as well as Green Tea ice creams (both chilling in the freezer). I explored upstairs -which is far roomier than downstairs and found yuzu marmelade! Also tried the yuzu and green tea financier selection – EXCELLENT!

In a post from 2009, Pieguybxl gave you an overview of the Kam Yuen supermarket near the Bourse, which for a long time has been my go-to location for all things for my Thai curry, Japanese sushi attempts and also indian curries. I love browsing the selection of utensils nd china at the back, the unknown products in the freezers, the tea, the spices, the fresh vegetables. I love the fact that it is open on Sundays!

But, for the Japanese side of things, I have finally found a competitor! On google maps it shows up as Tagawa, but when you are on Chaussee de Vleurgat, you find Nagomi. It looks like the entrance to a garage, or interior hall, but just keep going towards the back and you will find this tiny, often busy, supermarket. Nearer the street entrance there is also a small tea/china shop with beautiful Japanese imports also.

But Nagomi is a Japanese store, with an in-house sushi slicer! You can order your fish by phone, saying whether you want it for nigiri or maki, and he will prepare the fish. They also have pre-made sushi on site, as well as seaweed salads, sake, and the amazing Belgo-Japanese collaboration OWA beer. Try it! It’s a very good beer! They stock ingredients for far more than just sushi though. I was just passing through, to see what they had so didn’t have time to explore all the freezers and the recipe section upstairs. I will be back for a tub of the black sesame ice cream however!!! Our visiting Japanese researcher swears by this shop, and I think I may become a fan too!

I suppose you can’t go wrong with this flavorful spread of chick peas. The herbs on top were a nice touch. Not bad, for a supermarket item! Perfect for a picnic on those rare sunny days in Belgium, like we’ve been having recently.

Sometimes we just want a one-stop shop for all our East Asian grocery needs in Brussels. Fortunately for us, Kam Yuen off the Brouckere is on its way to becoming that all-purpose supermarket. The products that it lacks can be found at other, smaller specialty shops elsewhere, while the selection of products it does carry among its expansive property is pretty impressive for Brussels standards.

Beyond the basic rice, sauces, and spices, this place (lovingly abbreviated as KY) has a fresh produce section filled with items that may be more difficult to find elsewhere, particularly all in one place. The bean sprouts, Chinese broccoli, nappa cabbage, taro root, lotus root, Thai chilies, and other produce are available at the front, changing with the seasons. Teas, curries, star anise, canned lychees, and various condiments also line the shelves. A variety of dried Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean noodles lie in the back, while my personal favorite of fresh Cantonese wide rice noodles sometimes is available in the refrigerator. The frozen dim sum section is decent, though lacking, while the Japanese munchies in the back are a real pleasure (YanYans, roasted nori, and wasabi peas, anyone?). Finally, if we want a steamer, wok, or chopsticks, we conveniently can find them here, too.

They’re even open on Sundays before 18h/6pm, competing with the nearby Delhaize. Sometimes I don’t like shopping, but KY always makes doing it easier. Be warned that the place gets packed on Saturday afternoons.